Folding table and chair



April 18, 1933. BLUMENTHAL 1,903,954

FOLDING TABLE AND CHAIR Filed July 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO ORNEYS.

Louns BLUME THHL.

April 18, 1933. L. BLUMENTHAL 1,903,954

FOLDING TABLE AND CHAIR Filed July 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LOUIS BLUMENTHAL.

. ORNEYS invention to provide devices of the character Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES LOUIS BLUMENTHAL, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK FOLDING TABLE Ann CHAIR Application filed July 29.

My invention relates to folding furniture of the type which isadapted to be folded into a compact bundle for ease in transportation and storage.

The object of my invention is to providean article of the class described comprising a.

table and two chairs or benches of such a construction that when not in use the table and chairs are entirely enclosed in a compact bundle which requiresa minimum amount of space for storage. 3 r

A further objectof my invention is the provision of' a device of the character described comprising in a single structure two tables,

large number of adjustable parts in folding furniture has the further disadvantage that, as a general rule, thestabil-ity and strength of the furniture decreases as the number of adjustable parts increases.

It is therefore an additional object of my defined above which will have a minimum number of adjustable parts and the adjustable parts of which will be of the simplest character. The devices, according to my invention therefore, have the advantage of being strong, comparatively indestructible and easily operated.

Furtherobjects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description of the accompanying drawings'in which, 7

Fig. 1' isa perspective view of a single table and chairs or benches in operative position:

Fig. 2 is a detail of one of the benches in perspective showing the hinged construction of the suportingleg;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the table and one of the benches in folded position;

1 Fig. 4 is a perspective of the complete device in folded position; and

1932. semi No. 625,595.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a modification of the device shown in'Fig. 1 having two tables and four benches.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 represents a back or supporting member having a'ledge 2 at its upper end. Hinged to the outer edge of the ledge 2 in such a manner as to fold downwardly on the supporting member is a table 3 which is supported by a bracket 4 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1") hinged to the supporting member 1 in such a fashion as to fit under the ledge 2' when in folded position. Hinged to either side of the supporting member 1 is a bench, comprising a back 5, a seat 6 hinged to the back 5 and a supporting leg for the seat comprising a member 7 hinged to the bottom of the seat, and a member 8 hinged at one end on its under face to the member 7 and at the other end on its upper face tothe back of the bench 5. The purpose of the member 8 is to keep the member 7 in an upright position when the seat is open. These members are so arranged that when the seat is closed, the member 8, being of the same thicknessas the seat 6, is coextensive therewith with the'memher 7 superimposed upon both ofthem. This construction reduces the thickness of the bench when in closed position to the thickness of the seat, plus the thickness of thev back, plus the thickness of the member 7.

Each bench has a winged portion 9 which carries at its free edge the hinges by which the benches are hinged to the supporting member 1. Each wing member 9 has a width equal to the thickness of the table, plus the thickness of bracket 45, plus the thickness of the bench seat, plus the thickness of the bench back. Accordingly, the thickness of Y the bundle,when the device is in folded position, is simply the thickness of the memher 9, plus the thickness of the supporting member 1. i

The back of one of the'benches 5 carries at its free end a hook 10, and the back of the other bench carries at its free end a stud or eye 11 which is adapted to be engaged by the hook 10 to hold the device in folded position. It is obvious that any other conventional fastening device may be used in place of the elements 10 and 11.

As is apparent from Figs. 3 and 4, the width of the ledge 2 is just sufiicient to per- 5 mit the supporting bracket 4 to rest between the table 3 and the supporting member 1 when the table is in vertical folded position. This construction eliminates the loss of any space, and, at the same time, makes it possible for the top of the bracket 4 to be made absolutely flush with the bottom of the ledge 2, and the bottom of the table 3, thereby eliminating any wobbling of the table top when it is in open position.

Likewise, as is shown in Fig. 4, the supporting legs of the seats 6 are so arranged with regard to the width of the table that, when the benches are folded over on the table, the legs ofthe benches assume a position ad- Zthjacent the edge of the table whereby the seats 6 of the benches are closely superimposed upon the table top. Here again, the arrangement of parts is such as to absolutely avoid any waste of space. V

Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which my device may be modified to provide double the seating room and table space normally provided thereby. Similar parts in Fig. 5 will be designated by the numerals applying to 9: these parts in Figs. 1 to 4.

The device illustrated in Fig. 5 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, merely by the fact that the ledge 2 is twice as wide as it is in the device of Figs. 1 to 4 and instead 590f stopping at the two ends of supporting member 1 continues to the base of supporting member 1. The wings 9 of the benches or chairs, accordingly, instead of being hinged on the supporting member 1 are hinged on 9;tl1e respective edges of the ledge 2. The purpose of the extension of ledge 2 to the base of the supporting member 1 is to provide space for the abutment of adjacent wing members 9 when adjacent benches are in open position. Since the other constructional features of the device shown in Fig. 5 are the same as those shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a further discussion thereof can be dispensed with. My device can be constructed of any suitable material, preferably a light wood to facilitate transportation. It is peculiarly adapted for use in a great number of instances where space must be economized. It ,is particularly suitable for use as a breakfast nook in small kitchens in which an ordinary table and chairs or benches would be in the way of a person working. When in folded position it can be readily secured to an autog mobile or other vehicle for transportation to a suitable stopping place for a picnic. It forms a very desirable item in the equipment of tourists who camp along their itinerary. V 7

My device can be made any desired size and the table and chairs can be made in any preferred design without departing from the scope of my invention.

It is to be understood also that where hinges are shown in the drawing, they can be replaced by any other conventional means for swingably attaching one element to another, such as pivots.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention and illustrated preferred embodiments of the same, which embodiments are to be taken as illustrative rather than limitative, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a normallyv upright supporting member, a table swingably connected to the top of said supporting member, a seat assembly and means for swingably connecting said seat assembly to a side edge of said supporting member whereby said seat assembly may be folded in spaced relation to said supporting member.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a normally upright supporting member, a ledge projecting from the upper edge of said supporting member, a table swingably connected at one of its edge to the free edge of said ledge, a bracket swingably mounted on said supporting member and adapted, when swung perpendicular to said supporting member, to support said. table in open position, a seat assembly and means for swingably connecting said seat assembly to a side edge of said supporting member whereby said seat assembly maybe folded in spaced relation to said supporting member.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a normally upright supporting member, a ledge projecting from the upper edge of said supporting member, a table swingably connected along one of its edges to the free edge of said ledge, a bracket swingably connected to said supporting member and adapted, whenswung perpendicular to said supporting member, to support said table in open position, a wing member swingably connected along one of its edges to each end of said supporting member, and a seat assembly secured perpendicular to the face of said wing member along its edge opposite {)he edge connected to said supporting memer. 1 a

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a normally upright supporting member, a ledge projecting from the upper edge of said supporting member,'a table swingably connected along one of its edges to the free edge of said ledge, a bracket swingably connected to said supporting member and adapted, when swung perpendicular to said supporting member, to support. said table in open position, a wingmember swingably connect-ed along one'of its edges to each end of said supporting member, and a seat assembly secured perpendicular to the face of said wing member along its edge opposite the edge connected to said supporting member, each wing member having a width at least equal to the thickness of the seat assembly, plus the thickness of the table, plus the thickness of the bracket.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a normally upright supporting member, a ledge projecting from the upper edge of said supporting member, a table swingably connected along one of its edges to the free edge of said ledge, a bracket swingably connected with said supporting member and adapted, when swung perpendicular to said supporting member, to support said table in open position, a wing member swingably connected along one of its edges to each end of said supporting member, a seat back secured perpendicular to the face of said wing member along its edge opposits the edge connected to said supporting member, a seat swingably connected to said seat back, and a supporting leg for said. seat comprising a normally upright member swingably connected to the under surface of said seat and a connecting link having one of its ends swingably connected to said nor mally upright member and its other end swingably connected to said seat back.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a normally upright supporting member, a ledge projecting from the upper edge of said supporting member, a table swingably connected along one of its edges to the free edge of said ledge, a bracket swingably connected with said supporting member and adapted, when swung perpendicular to said supporting member, to support said table in open position, a wing member swingably connected along one of its edges to each end of said supporting member, a seat back secured perpendicular to the face of said wing member along its edge opposite the edge connected to said supporting member, a seat swingably connected to said seat back, and a supporting leg for said seat comprising a normally upright member swingably connected to the under surface of said seat and a connecting link having one of its ends swingably connected to said normally upright member and its other end swingably connected to said seat back, each of said wing members having a width equal to the thickness of the seat in folded position, plus the thickness of the table, plus the thickness of the bracket.

7 In a device of the character described, in combination, a normally upright supporting member, a ledge projecting from the upper edge of said supporting member, a table swingably connected along one of its edges to the free edge of said ledge, a bracket swingably connected with said supporting member and adapted, when swung perpendicular to said supporting member, to support said table in open position, a wing member swingably connected along one of its edges to each end of said supporting member, a seat back secured perpendicular to the face of said wing member along its edge opposite the edge connected to said supporting member, a seat swingably connected to said seat back, and a supporting leg for said seat comprising a normally upright member swingably connected to the under surface of said seat, at a point spaced from the end of said normally upright supporting member, a distance less than the distance between the end of said normally upright supporting member and the adjacent end of the table, and a connecting link having one of its ends swingably connected to said normally upright member and its other end swingably connected to said seat back.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, a normally upright supporting member, a ledge projecting from the upper edge of said supporting member, a table swingably connected along one of its edges to the free edge of said ledge, a bracket swingably connected with said supporting member and adapted, when swung perpendicular to said supporting member, to support said table in open position, a wing member swingably connected along one of its edges to each end of said supporting member, a seat back secured perpendicular to the face of said wing member along its edge opposite the edge connected to said supporting member, a seat swingably connected to said seat back, and a supportingleg for said seat comprising a normally upright member swingably connected to the under surface of said seat, at a point spaced from 'the end of said normally upright supporting member, a distance less than the distance between the end of said normally upright supporting member and the adjacent end of the table, and a connecting link having one of its ends swingably connected to said normally upright member and its other end swingably connected to said seat back, each of said wing members having a width equal to the thickness of the seat in folded position, plus the thickness of the table, plus the thickness of the bracket. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS BLUMENTHAL. 

